Ion I.C. Bratianu

Ion I.C. Bratianu (20 August 1864-24 November 1927) was Prime Minister of Romania from 9 January 1909 to 28 December 1910 (succeeding Dimitrie Alexandru Sturdza and preceding Petre P. Carp), from 4 January 1914 to 28 January 1918 (succeeding Titu Maiorescu and preceding Alexandru Averescu), from 29 November 1918 to 26 September 1919 (succeeding Constantin Coanda and preceding Artur Vaitoianu), from 17 January 1922 to 29 March 1926 (succeeding Take Ionescu and preceding Alexandru Averescu), and from 21 June to 24 November 1927 (succeeding Barbu Stirbey and preceding Vintila Bratianu). He was a member of the National Liberal Party of Romania.

Biography
Ionel Bratianu was born in Florica, Romania on 20 August 1864, the son of leading National Liberal Party of Romania politician Ion C. Bratianu. He became leader of the party in 1909, and he was elected Prime Minister that same year. During World War I, he was forced to abandon his initial policy of neutrality, being persuaded to enter the war on the side of the Triple Entente with the goal of acquiring new territories. He miscalculated the strength of the Bulgarian and German forces, which entered Bucharest in December 1916, but he successfully represented his country at the Paris Peace Conference and gained most of the territory that he demanded. He devised a new constitution in 1923 and created a centralized state, and he encouraged the often conflicting goals of protectionism, industrialization, and restrictions of foreign ownership. The country became one of the most protectionist states in Europe, with tariffs being used to finance industrialization. He hoped to strengthen the political system through forcing the abdication of Crown Prince Carol, but his policies created strong discontent in the countryside, which became fertile ground for the support of the fascist parties. He retired in 1926.